By Bob Jacobson

Sweet and Lowdown, written and directed by Woody Allen, 95 minutes.

First, this is not a video. Sweet and Lowdown is the movie currently (or soon to be) in theaters. The time frame of Sweet and Lowdown is never made clear, but by its looks and sound, this story of Emmet Ray, possibly the world's second greatest jazz guitarist (after Django Reinhardt) seems to be set in the 1930's. In Emmet Ray's gifted hands even "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" is sublime. Then there's the other side of Emmet Ray. He pimps. He's callous toward the women he "dates". Shooting rats at the local dump is his idea of fun. He's a kleptomaniac. Ray invariably gets fired for arriving at his gigs late, drunk or both.

Commentaries on Ray by jazz historians (including one real one, Nat Hentoff) and a jazz deejay frame the series of scenes which make up Sweet and Lowdown. Ray is the stuff of legend. Even the experts' testimonies are largely based on stories they've heard or read.

Hanging over the entire story is Django. Ray cries at his recordings. He faints on the two occasions he's actually been in the master's presence. While constantly boasting of his own artistry, Ray always acknowledges that Reinhardt is number one. Yet Django haunts Emmet Ray.

Woody Allen demonstrates very well what a transformative experience music can be for both player and audience. His humor, more good-natured than biting, is sprinkled throughout. The performances of Sean Penn as Ray, Samantha Morton as his girlfriend Hattie and Uma Thurman as his wife Blanche are all terrific.

Howard Alden provides the actual solo playing, with Bucky Pizzarelli on rhythm guitar. Alden's work is stunning. Dick Hyman has chosen some great music from the period, with emphasis on Ellingtonia. The sets and photography are beautiful.

As the music credits rolled, I heard a movie-goer behind me exclaim "Oh, there really is a Django Reinhardt". Let's hope Sweet and Lowdown leads to a big revival of interest in the music of this true master.